BELGIUM - Chiles food production leads the Latin American bloc for food security according to the Global Food Security Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit and a large part of the production is in aquaculture and fisheries.

Speaking at the Global Seafood Expo in Brussels this week, Heraldo Muñoz (pictured), the minister for foreign affairs said that the success of Chilean food production was based on state of the art technology used in production and processing, rigorous compliance with international standards and certification and an extensive network of free trade agreements.

“Europe is a market of vital importance for the Chilean fishing and fish farming industry,” Mr Muñoz said at the opening of the Chilean ProChile pavilion at the export.

“Overseas buyers of Chilean food appreciate the economic and political stability of Chile, which incentivises entrepreneurship.”

He said that the country is renowned for its extensive coastline, cold clear waters and natural abundance of fish.

He said the sector was successfully building on its traditions and now had more than 90,000 fishermen.

He added that the enforcement of regulations, designed to improve sustainability, are vital to the future development of the Chilean seafood sector including fishing quotas, Total Allowable Catches, fishing bans and a closed season during the reproduction period.

He added that the contribution of research and development in both fishing and aquaculture had led to production growth and a diversification of resources.

Andrés Rebolledo, the general director of international economic relations at the Chilean ministry of foreign affairs said: Chile’s innovative seafood industry supplies high quality, safe products based on excellent environmental and sanitary conditions.

“Both Europe and Chile appreciate bilateral trade and are currently discussing an update of the Free Trade Agreement, which celebrated its 10th birthday in 2013.”